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Detroit Free Press Staff Writer

A district judge in Novi has shot back at a prosecutor’s allegations that he broke the law in his courtroom.

Judge Brian MacKenzie of the 52-1 District Court contends in court filings that the Oakland County prosecutor’s complaint against him is rife with factual and legal errors. His response, filed this week by his attorneys, also refers to the allegations as an “attack.”

Cooper is asking that the Oakland County Circuit Court correct MacKenzie’s actions, and that her office be allowed to review his cases dating back 10 years. Cooper also wants the higher court to order MacKenzie’s court clerk to stop reporting that prosecutors are present at hearings when they are not there.

MacKenzie’s response said there are no secret proceedings in his courtroom. An assistant prosecutor appears in court only on Wednesdays and every other Thursday, while the court is open five days a week, it said.

The response also said there were no attempts to conceal proceedings, and that the judge was required by law to order the files be made nonpublic. The prosecutor had full access to all nonpublic records, the response said.

“The prosecutor had actual notice or readily accessible electronic notice of all proceedings cited in the complaint,” MacKenzie’s response reads.

The response also said that Holmes Youthful Trainee Act status was not given to a 46-year-old defendant.

MacKenzie and one of his attorneys, John Lynch, could not immediately be reached for comment late Thursday. Cooper has declined to comment on the matter, saying it is pending litigation and that the complaint speaks for itself.

At a hearing Monday, Oakland County Circuit Judge Leo Bowman recused himself from the case, saying he could not be fair. The matter will be reassigned to another judge.

Staff writers L.L. Brasier and John Wisely contributed to this report.